Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints walk to the Conference Center in Salt Lake City for the church's 183rd Annual General Conference in April.

Written by

One year ago, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a major change to its missionary program, lowering the minimum age requirements for young missionaries.

It was an unexpected announcement when LDS President Thomas S. Monson made it during the first session of the church's 182nd Semiannual General Conference on Oct. 6, 2012, at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. In St. George, many eyes were instead glued to the St. George Marathon, but word of the historic change even reached some of the runners as they were dashing toward the finish line.